Doorlatch



NOV. 14, 1933- B. D REY 1,934,917

DOORLATCH Filed May 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

G. B. DOREY Nov. 14, 1933.

DOORLATCH Filed May 5, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheel' 2 arf/villi!!! I V EN TOR.

Nov. 14, 1933.

G. B. DOREY 1,934,917

DOORLATCH Filed May 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 G. B. DOREY Nov. 14, 1933.

DOORLATCH Filed May 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [N V EN TOR.

Patented Nov. 14, 1933 PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES My invention relates to improvements in door latch.

My invention relates to a latching device adapted to maintain two relatively movable closure 5 members in positive relation to each other and is especially adapted for use in connection with refrigerator doors and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a latch which will exert very strong pressure to force the door tightly closed and yet be operated in the conventional manner by a slight touch of the operating handle on the part of the operator thereby enabling the opening or closing of the door by the use of the finger tips only.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved latch such as will have a latch bolt adapted to be moved to operating latching position with great force and yet be readily and smoothly displaced from said latching position by engagement with a. keeper as the door is slammed to closed position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide toggle operating means such as will maintain a movable latch bolt member in either operative or non-operative position.

Another and more specific object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism having an axially movable latch bolt member adapted to have rolling rim contact with a shouldered keeper member.

Another and still more specific object of the invention is to provide an axially movable latch bolt member adapted to be rotatably mounted in one end of a link carrier and thereby restricted to a given path of movement.

My invention further resides in certain other features of construction, such as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and claimed.

For further comprehension of my invention reference may behad to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevational view of part of a door and door frame having my improved latch applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said section being taken on a line corresponding substantially to a line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 except that the latching bolt is shown as releasably maintained in non-latching position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 except that the latch is shown in an intermediate position between extremes, said view showing the relation between the latch bolt and the inclined face of the keeper as the door is moved towards closed position. I

Fig. 7 is a vertical elevational view of part of a door and its associated frame having a modified form of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 8 is a vertical side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line 9-9 of Fig. 7 and showing the latching bolt in its final latching position.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 except that the parts are shown in position with the latching bolt in its extreme non-latching position.

Fig. 11 is a vertical elevational view of part of a door and its associated frame illustrating still another modification of my invention.

Fig. 12 is a vertical elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on a. line corresponding substantially to a line 13-13 of Fig. 11. I

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 except that the latch bolt is shown in partially released position.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive showing my improvements in connection with a refrigerator door, the frame being indicated at A and the door at B. The latching mechanism includes a shouldered keeper C, preferably mounted on the frame and a latch device D, the latter being preferably mounted on 90 the door.

The latch device D includes: a housing 10; a movable latching bolt member 11 which is linked with the housing, the bolt 11 being adapted to pivot on a pin 12 and thereby form a hinge connection with a link member 13, the latter in turn being plvotally united with the housing by means of a pin 14; element 15 acts as a radius bar to confine the latch bolt to a given path of movement, said bar having a pivotal connection with the housing at 16 and at an appreciable distance from said pivot the bar embraces the latching bolt and thereby provides a bearing in which the latter is adapted to have a rotary movement; and a spring 17 is coiled around pin 14 for the purpose of urging the link 13 towards the latching bolt.

The housing 10 is of box-like formation having a wall 101 spaced outwardly from the door surface, and vertical side walls 102-102 connected by upper and lower horizontally extending 1,10

walls indicated at 103 and 104 respectively. The housing is provided with flanges 105 whereby attachment is efiected with the door through the medium of screws 106. The side walls 102 constitute carrying means for the link pin 12 and below said pin each wall 102 is provided with an opening 107 for the purpose of permitting the latch member 11 to extend beyond said walls 102-102.

The movable latch member 11 is preferably formed in one piece and includes a pair of arms 108108 extending outwardly therefrom, said arms being spaced from each other lengthwise of the bolt member 11 to accommodate between the arms the lower portion of the link member 13, the latter being formed with recesses 109 to receive said arms. The pair of arms 108--108 in effect straddle the link 13 and connection is effected between the latter and the arms by the pivot member 12 thereby providing for pivotal movement between the latch bolt and the link 13 about an axis remote from the axial center 110 of the latch bolt member 11.

At the end of the latch bolt member remote from the keeper, the latch bolt member is extended beyond the housing and provided with a fixed handle portion 112 which lies at the side of the housing. The latch bolt member, adjacent its opposite end, is formed with a circular bearing portion 113 which is adapted to seat in a similarly formed bearing 114 of the radius bar 15.

The latch bolt member 11, beyond the housing, is provided with an arm 116 which extends upwardly and inwardly towards the door frame. Said arm 116 at an appreciable distance from the axial center of thelatch bolt member 11 is provided with a trunnion like projection 117 on which a roller 118 is mounted.

Encircling the pin 14 is the torsion spring 17 which is coiled around the pin in opposite directions from the central portion 119 to present a U- shaped bearing arm midway of the ends of the spring. The arm 119 bears against the link 13 and the opposite ends 120-120 of the spring bear against the housing wall 101 for the purpose of rotating the latch bolt member 11 by exerting pressure on the bolt at a distance from its axis of rotation.

The radius bar 15 is extended between lugs 121--121 which also form carrying means for the pivot 16, said bar during its radial movement operates to restrict the movement of the latch bolt to a path corresponding to the are described by the bar as it swings around its pivotal mounting.

The keeper C includes a base portion 122 whereby attachment is effected with the frame A and extending outwardly from said base is a body portion 123 having a shoulder 124 disposed in alignment with the end of the projecting portion of the latch bolt 11. Leading from the lower portion of the shoulder is an upwardly inclined surface 125 which constitutes a runway on which the roller 118 is adapted to roll for the purpose of displacing the latch bolt member from its operative latching position as the door is slammed towards closed position. The inclined surface 125 is continued beyond the shoulder 124 for the purpose of engaging with the roller 118 throughout sufficient range of movement of the bolt member to permit the latter to clear the shoulder and thus permit of a smooth and gradual displacement of the latch bolt from its normal latching position. That part of the runway which extends beyond the shoulder is of restricted width as indicated at 126 and therefore does not interfere with the free upward movement of the latch bolt proper, it being understood that as the latch bolt moves into engagement with the shoulder 124,

said roller 118 moves beyond the limits of the rungray in a recess 12'] provided for its accommodaion.

The lower portion of the body 123 includes an inclined surface 128 which slopes downwardly and outwardly for the purpose of engaging beneath the roller 118 and displacing the latch bolt grom5 its non-latching position, as indicated in The latch-bolt is adapted to have axial bodily movement, said movement being restricted to an arcuate path, as indicated at 129, corresponding to the are described by the radius bar as it pivots around its axis 16, and as the bodily movement takes place the latch also turns about its axis 110. The rotary movement of the latch bolt about its axis causes the rim of the latch bolt to roll along the face of the shoulder 124 thereby eliminating friction between the surfaces of bolt and shoulder. The face of the shoulder is preferably substantially parallel with the face of the closure but owing to the arcuate path of travel, of the bolt, there is a slight outward movement of the bolt as indicated at 130 which forces the door very tightly closed as the bolt moves upwardly in contact with the shoulder.

Ijhe latch bolt member in its final latching posltion as indicated in Fig. 4 lies with its axis on dead center between the pivots of link 13, said latch bolt and link being respectively offset as indicated at 131 and 132 respectively, in order to straddle each other and permit the 110 center line of arms 108 to lie on the center line extending through the axes of pivots 12 and 14 of the link 13. The latch bolt in its final latching position is thus secured against axial bodily movement and may be displaced from its 115 dead center position only by a turning movement of the bolt which may be effected either by means of the handle 112 or by. applying a turning movement on the end of lever arm 116.

The operation of the device is as follows:- assuming the door to be in latched relation as in Fig. 2, an outward pull on the handle 112 induces a rotary movement of the latch bolt which then pivots about the axis of pin 12 and causes the bolt portion to move downwardly, said downward movement of the bolt also operating to force the link 13 rearwardly and thereby increasing the tension of the spring 1'7. The downward movement of the bolt is accompanied by a corresponding movement of the radius bar 15, the rearward movement of the link 13 continuing until such time as the center line of the arm 108 crosses the center line of the radius bar 15 when the spring 1'7 then acts to straighten the arm and link and the pressure of the spring 135 maintains the latch bolt in its nonlatching position. The extent which the arm and link are permitted to straighten after the pivotal axis of pin 12 has crossed the center line of the radius bar 15 is only slightly more than sufficient to balance the weight of handle 112 so that a slight upward movement will displace the latch bolt from said inoperative position.

The displacement of the latch bolt from its non-operative position is automatically accomplished as the door is moved towards closed position inasmuch as the inclined wedging surface 125 imparts the necessary upward movement to the roller 118 to move the axis of pivot 12 above 150 angularity of the forces tending to force the latch bolt towards its final latching position, such force having a variation from zero to a maximum. The'force moving the bolt along its path of travel is zero when the center line of the arm of the latch bolt lies on the center line of the radius bar 15, this condition as will be understood being when the direction of thrust.of the spring is in a direction substantially normal to the path of travel of the said bolt, and said force reaches its maximum when the latch bolt is disposed with its axis on dead center between the axes of link 13.

In the modificationshown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, the door frame is indicated at E and the door at F. The latch mechanism is made up of two main parts including a keeper G and the latch portion indicatedat H. In this embodiment of my invention the latch device is adapted for operation through the movement of the radius bar and the parts are modified to permit of such operation.

Referring to the drawings showing Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, the latch portion H is shown as including: a housing 200; an operating handle 201; said handle being pivoted to the housing at 202 and formed with an inwardly extending arm portion 203 in the outer end of which is a slot 204; a latch bolt 205 rotatably mounted in the outer end of the slot 204, said bolt having a pair of arms 206-206 outstanding therefrom; a link 207 pivoted at one end to the housing by means of a pin 208, said link at the opposite end being extended between the pair of arms 206 and united therewith by a pin 209; and a spring 210 coiled around pin 203 and bearing respectively on the link 207 and the housing 200. The end of the latch bolt 205 is extended to engage with the keeper G and is provided, in alignment therewith, with a pair of lugs 211211 between which is pivotally mounted a roller 212, said roller having its pivot 213 disposed at an appreciable distance from the axial center of the latch bolt.

The keeper G is provided with a shoulder 214 adapted to co-operate with the latch bolt and leading upwardly from said shoulder is an inclined surface 215 for engagement, first, with the roller and thereafter with the latch proper for the purpose of displacing the bolt from its extreme latching position and permitting the bolt to engage behind the shoulder.

The latch bolt in its extreme non-latching position is as shown in Fig. 10 and is adapted to be displaced from said position by engagement between the roller 212 and inclined surface 216 of the keeper G in the manner described in con, nection with the previous embodiment.

In this modification of my invention, the latch bolt in its final position is so related to the axes of the link 207 as to ensure that the toggle joint will not close sufiiciently to bring the axis of the latch bolt on dead center between the axes of the link and therefore the latch bolt may be displaced from its latching position by applying pressure directly on the latch bolt. The latch bolt is therefore moved in both directions by direct pressure on the latch bolt, such pressure being directly applied by operation of the radius arm portion 203, which portion is preferably formed as an extension of the operating handle.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive, the door frame is indicated at J and the door at K, said door frame having a keeper L mounted thereon and the door having latch mechanism M carried thereby. This embodiment of my invention permits of operation through the movement of the radius bar while feature described in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

Referring to said Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive, the latch mechanism M includes: a housing 300; an operating handle'301, said handle being pivoted to the housing on pivot 302 and formed on the inner side of said pivot with a radially movable portion 303, said portion 303 having an arcuate shaped bearing 304; a. latch bolt memher 305 rotatably and bodily movable in the bearing 304, said bolt having a pair of arms 306-306; a link 307 pivoted at one end to the housing and at the opposite end to the arms; and a spring 308.

The housing 300 includes vertical side walls 309 and 310, the former being formed with an opening 311 to permit of the passage of the latch bolt 305, said opening having a wall 312 formed on a radius struck from the center of rotation of the radial member 303. Intermediate the side walls, the housing includes 2. lug 312 which forms one of the supports for the pivot of link 307.

The radial portion 303 includes a lateral projection 313 having a substantially fiat bearing portion 314 adapted to cooperate with a curved seat 315 on the latch bolt, said curved seat being preferably an extension of one of the arms 306. The said seat 314, when the toggle joint is in closed position, as in Fig. 13, is adapted to engage with the outer end of the curved seat 315 and impart a turning movement to the bolt thereby breaking the toggle joint, said turning movement continuing until such time as the upper circular bearing 316 of the arm comes in contact with the bolt, as indicated in Fig. 14, and thereafter the latch bolt is moved to nonlatching position by direct pressure of the radial arm.

The end of the latch bolt which engages with the keeper J is provided with 'an extension 317 having a pair of walls 318-318 between which is pivotally mounted a roller 319, said roller being adapted to move along the inclined face 320 of the keeper. The arm 317, when the latch is in operative latching position with the keeper, extends in a recess provided between walls 321-321 of the keeper. The latch bolt is adapted to seat rearwardly of the shoulder 322 and is maintained in relation therewith by reason of the closed toggle joint effected between the bolt and link.

At the junction of the shoulder and inclined face of the keeper there is provided a roller 324 with which the extension 317 of the bolt is adapted to coast after the roller 319 of the bolt has moved beyond the roller 324.

The latch bolt is adapted to be retained in its non-operative position and be displaced therefrom in the manner described in connection with the embodiment shown in my second modification.

While I have shown and described three different embodiments of my invention, the same are merely illustrative and I claim all constructions which come within the scope or the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a latching device, a base portion; a latch bolt mounted for bodily and rotary movement relatively to said base portion; a link connection between said base portion and latch bolt, said connection with the latch bolt being disposed at an appreciable distance from the axis of rotation oi. said bolt; resilient means acting between said link and base portion to cause rotary movement of the bolt by movement or the link; and means for confining the movement of the bolt to a predetermined path.

2. In a latching device, a base portion; a latch bolt adapted to have bodily axial movement; means ior restricting the movement 0! the bolt to a predetermined path; and means acting on said latch bolt to induce bodily movement or said bolt by rotation thereof, said means including a link pivoted at one end to the base portion and at its opposite end to the latch bolt, and a spring acting between the base portion and the link for urging the latter towards the latch bolt, said latch bolt when in operative latching position being adapted to lie intermediate the axes of the link.

3. In a latching device of the type adapted to be mounted on a closure member; a movable latch bolt adapted to have axial movement; means for confining the movement of the bolt to a given path, said means including a pivoted element; and means for inducing bodily movement of the latch bolt by rotation thereof.

In a latching device; a housing; a latch bolt bodily movable by rotation thereof; a link pivoted at one end to the housing and at the opposite end to the latch bolt at an appreciable distance from its axis of rotation; a radius bar pivotally united with the housing, said bar form ing a carrying means for the latch bolt and being adapted to confine the movement of the bolt to a given path; and resilient means acting on the lini: to rotate the same and thereby exert a turning movement on the said latch bolt.

5. In a latching device; a housing; a latch bolt having axial bodily movement with respect to the housing; means for confining the path of movement of the bolt, said means including a radius bar having one end pivoted to the housing and having a bearing adjacent the opposite end in which the latch bolt is rotatably mounted; and toggle mechanism acting on the latch bolt for maintaining the latter either in operative latching position or in a non-latching position.

6. In a latching device; a latch bolt member adapted to have bodily axial movement; means for inducing bodily movement of the bolt by rotation thereof, said means including a resilient element adapted to act on said bolt member at an appreciable distance from its axis-of rotation to rotate the bolt, the angle of thrust of said resilient element being adapted to vary with the angular movement of the latch bolt for the purpose of maintaining the latch bolt either in an inoperative position or urging said bolt towards final latching position.

'1. In a latching device adapted to be mounted on a closure member for maintaining said closure in a definite relation to an associated keeper; a movable latch bolt member adapted to be moved into engagement with the keeper by rotation of the said latch bolt; resilient means acting on said bolt at an appreciable distance from its axis oi! rotation; and means for confining the latch bolt movement to a given path, said means including a radius bar having one end pivoted at a location fixed with respect to the closure member on which said bolt is mounted. said bar having a bearing for the latch bolt at an appreciable distance irom its pivot, said latch bolt during its movement being adapted to vary the angle of thrust of the resilient means to either urge the bolt to operative latching position or maintaining said bolt in non-latching position.

8. In a' latching device adapted to maintain relatively movable closure members in operative relation; a shouldered keeper carried by one of the members; an axially movable bolt carried by the other 0! the members, said bolt having a latching portion adapted to engage with the shoulder or the keeper; means for restricting the movement 01' the bolt to a given path and means for moving the bolt by rotation thereof including an arm outstanding from the bolt and a link pivoted at one end to the arm and at the opposite end to. the associated closure member, said arm and link constituting a toggle joint adapted in one position to maintain the bolt in operative latching position; and resilient means acting on the link at varying angles of thrust and being adapted in one position to exert pressure in a direction substantially normal to the path 0! movement of the latch bolt.

9. In a latching device; a latch bolt member adapted to have bodily axial movement. said bodi- 1y movement being adapted to be initiated by rotary movement of the bolt; and resilient means acting on said latch bolt at an appreciable distance from its axis oi. rotation to rotate the bolt, the angle of thrust of said resilient means being adapted to vary with the angular movement of the latch bolt to either maintain the bolt in a nonoperative position or urging said bolt to operative latching position, said force acting on the bolt being adapted to vary from a minimum of zero when the line of thrust of the resilient means is substantially normal to the path of movement of the bolt and increasing to a maximum when the line of thrust of the resilient means is acting on the bolt in a direction coinciding with the direction of movement of the bolt.

10. In a latching device adapted to latch two relatively movable members; a shouldered keeper carried by one of the parts, said keeper having an inclined runway leading from the shoulder; a

latch bolt carried by the other of the parts, said bolt having a portion movable into engagement with the shoulder of the keeper, said bolt being operable by a movement of rotation; means for urging the latch bolt to operative latching position; and means for displacing the latch from its operative latching position, said means including a lever arm projecting from the shoulder engaging portion of the bolt and engageable with the runway oi the keeper in wedging relation therewith.

11. In a latching device adapted to maintain two relatively movable closure members in latched relation; a keeper carried by one of the parts, said keeper having an inclined runway and a shoulder disposed intermediate the limits of the runway; and a latch carried by the other of the parts, said latch having a portion adapted to engage with the shoulder of the keeper, said latch having a projecting lever arm to engage with the inclined runway of the keeper in advance of the shoulder engaging portion of the latch for the purpose of displacing the latch from its operative latching position.

12. In a latch device; a housing; an operating member pivotally mounted to the housing and including a depending handle outwardly of the housing and an inwardly extending portion disposed within the housing; a latch bolt rotatably mounted in said inwardly extending portion of the operating member; and resilient means acting on said bolt at an appreciable distance from its axis of rotation for the purpose of urging said bolt to operative latching position or maintaining said bolt in inoperative position.

13. In a latch device; a housing; an operating handle pivoted with respect to the housing, said handle having a portion extending within the housing; a latch bolt rotatably mounted in said inwardly extending portion; and means acting on said bolt for inducing rotary movement of the bolt, said means including resilient means acting on the bolt at an appreciable distance from its axis of rotation; said bolt being adapted to have a bodily movement of translation in unison with the inwardly extending portion of the operating handle.

14. In a latching mechanism; a keeper, said keeper having a shouldered face and an inclined runway leading from said shoulder, said keeper at the Junction of the shoulder and runway being provided with a roller; and a latch bolt cooperable with the shoulder of the keeper, said bolt being adapted to move in and out of engagement with respect to the keeper shoulder, said bolt being adapted to be displaced from its normal latching position by engagement with the inclined runway of the keeper and thereafter move around the face of the roller into engagement with the shoulder of the keeper.

15. In a latch structure; a housing; a latch bolt bodily movableby rotation thereof; a link pivoted at one end to the housing and at the opposite end to the movable latch bolt at an appreciable distance from its axis of rotation; a radially movable member having a pivotal connection with the housing and presenting a bearing for the latch bolt; and resilient means acting on the link for pressing the bolt outwardly in its bearing in the radial member and exert a turning movement on the latch bolt member; said bolt during its movement being adapted to move in unison with the radial member, the axis of the pivot connecting the link and the bolt being adapted to shift from one side of the center line of the radial member to the opposite side thereof for the purpose of changing the direction of thrust of the resilient means for the purpose of maintaining the bolt either in non-operative position or urging said latch to operative latching position.

16. In a latch device including a bodily movable latch member adapted to be moved by rotation thereof; a pivotally mounted operating element adapted to embrace the said movable member and confine the movement of the latch member to a given path; toggle link means adapted to maintain the latch member against movement when in operative latching position; and co-operating seating means on the latch member and the operating element whereby movement of the latter will induce a rotary movement of the latch.

17. In a latching device adapted to latch two relatively movable closure members together; a shouldered keeper carried by one of the closure members; said latch being bodily movable along the face of the closure in a direction substantially parallel with the face of the shoulder; a link pivotally mounted with respect to the associated closure member, said link having its opposite end united with the latch; resilient means acting on the link for rotating said link about its pivotal mounting; and a pivotally mounted element adapted to confine the movable latch to a given path, said pivotally mounted element having a seat disposed at an appreciable distance from the axis of rotation of the bolt; and a seat fixed relatively to the bolt member and adapted to co-act with the seat on the pivotally mounted element whereby movement of the latter will act upon and exert pressure on the seat of the bolt to move the bolt by rotation.

18. In a latching device adapted to maintain two relatively movable closure members in latched relation; a keeper carried by one of the parts, said keeper having a latch retaining shoulder and inclined runway disposed beyond said shoulder; a latch element carried by the other of the parts, said latch element having a portion adapted to engage with the shoulder of the keeper; means for forcing said latch element to operative latching position; and means associated with the latch element and the inclined face of the keeper for displacing the latch element from said operative latching position, said means including a projecting portion on the latch element adapted to engage with the inclined runway in advance of the shoulder engaging portion of the latch element.

19. In a latching device adapted to maintain two relatively movable closure members in latched relation; a shouldered keeper carried by one of the parts, said keeper having an inclined runway leading from said shoulder; a latch member carried by the other of the closure members, said latch member having a movable portion adapted to engage with the shoulder of the keeper; means for moving the latch member to operative latching position; and means for displacing said latch member from its latching position, said means including a lever portion on the latch member movable in unison with the latch member and adapted to engage with the inclined runway of the keeper in advance of the shoulder engaging por- 1 GEORGE B. DOREY. 

